We're on the starbord side cabin E310 & were getting the sun all day going. We'll miss it on the return.
Seas are still very calm with a slight chop.
Horizon buffet food is very good.
Anytime seating lat night was SLOW. We arrived at 5:40, had a table for two & it took us almost 2 hours for diner. If tonight is another repeat, I think we'll eat at the buffet for most of out meals.
Great lecture given today & scheduled for the rest of the trip on Hawaiian culture, things to do, etc. given by Dr. Bob Basso. He points oout where all the great shoping bargans can be had- Walmart. Also he'll be on the dock at each port to direct pax where to go for the free busses to the shoping.
Hardly anyone using any of the pools. It's still to cool.
I met BobO & many of the regulars who post on Cruise Critic. There must have been 50 or more at the Wheelhouse lounge today for a get together.

I have to correct the last post I made. We're located in cabin E310 on the PORT side & getting the sun on the way to Hawaii. I believe it going to be the wrong side to see the volcano at night from our balcony. we'll have to join the crowd up on deck 14 at 3 AM (assuming conditions are OK) There was lots of heavy mist last night near the water although you could look up & see stars.

That's really funny, because I just pulled up the deck plans thinking I had made a mistake; I'm in B206, which I thought was portside but you saying E310 was starboard threw me into a panic. Anyway, thank you; you confirmed my planning was correct.
Sorry to hear about the dining room; leisurely is one thing--2 hours is a bit much. Hope it improves for you.
If you sail from Kona to Hilo you will be on the right(correct)side to see the volcano; of course port order can vary.
Enjoy!

It's a guess as to which side of the ship might be correct. It's up to the Captain as to which direction he'll go. We won't know until tomorrow about our trip. I suppose it depends on the winds. The on-board naturalist was going to ask him this evening.

Another cool morning in the Pacific- probable about 65 but the wind makes it feel colder. We went to the anytime dining room again last evening & sat a different table with 3 other couples & had good service. Total time was about 1 1/2 hours even with some people ordering extra desserts. Reserving at special table seems to be a quicker way of getting seated. There were two lines that formed at 5:30 waiting to get in the dining room & the reservation line zipped through the door & the while the non reservation line slowly proceeded in as they sat them at their request. We how have a group of compatable couples with seated at a table with a waiter who keeps the meal moving.
Ths ship is rocking a little today due to a headwind but the seas are still relatively calm condidering we're probably 1,100 miles from LA.
There are some special events being held today in tribute to Pearl Harbor day. There having a meeting of all Vets at 11:30 in the Wheelhouse bar. A movie "Pearl Harbor" The Eye Witness Story will be shown at 2:30 & the Captain will give a special speach at 7:30 this evening.

Although none of the crew has mentioned the outbreak of the Norovirus 3 weeks ago, you can see the concern is anyone even complains about not feeling well. They wanted to call the nurse for a women at the Pursors desk who had a slight cold. It's evident that they don't want to take another chance of an outbreak to begin. There are bottles of antimicrobial hand rinse positioned through the ship on every counter. I even borrowed a bottle & wiped down our room when we first arrived.

Hi RichC,

I am enjoying your reports. Hope they keep coming.

One question if you don't mind. I understand you are on port side. I wonder if it is comfortable on your balcony to hang out during the day given wind conditions etc? Also, is the Promenade deck (outside) OK for walks? Oops, I guess that is two questions.

Enjoy your cruise!

To tell the truth, we havent been out on the balcony all thet much since it's been only about 68 degrees so far. You do get some shielding from the wind, but it's still cool. I'm sure we'll be using it much more as we approach Hawaii. We're still about 1,400 miles from Kona having gone 860 miles or so. Right now it's an overcast day with a slight drizzle (or possibly sea spray) so not many people are on the Promenade deck. There's no one in the out door pool & only 1 kid in the Lotus pool (water temp 78.2) There are a few people in the hot tubs in the Lotue area but the hot tubs in the main pool are roped off- They'll be open later for sure. The wind had picked up today to about 40 Knots with moderate seas. The ship is only rocking side to side slightly. More later after shuffleboard, if anybody shows up.

We'll it looks as though the Norovirus has hit on the Island Princess. To what degree I don't know but at the Horizon buffet thie afternoon no one was allowed to serve themselves for the first time. All salt & pepper shakers were removed from the tables as well as the sugar. The line to get in was exceptionally long but has dissapated by the time I left. Also no one was allowed back to the food area back through the exit & had to return to the enterance to get more food. It's not apparent that anything is wrong at the moment & the crew won't say a word (so far) but at dinner tonight I'll pry some info from out waiter.

Hi RichC,

The webcam shows choppy waters and dark clouds. Are you going through a storm?

Good luck with the virus. Hopefully, a false alarm.

I wouldn,t call it a storm but we're got heavy winds which are causing a lot of rocking. There are a few people begining to feed the affects. My wife had finally put on her patch.

As far as the Norovirus goes, they're making an announcement as I type- There have been an increasing number of Norovirus cases appearing throught the ship. They're asking everyone to wash their hands & also use the antibaterical lotion. At the buffet their serving all food to you, not allowing anyone to touch the serving spoons. All public bathrooms are braced open as to keep people from touching the door handles on the the way in & out. (and tonight is formal night) I imigine there will be lots of folks seasick by then as the rocking is getting worse as we go. Oh I forgot, there's no charge my the medical dept if you are treated.

More info on Norovirus...There appears that only a few passengers have the virus at this time as well as one crew menber. They're being overly cautious about having another outbreak. From what I understand, they're a little shorthanded in some of the departments as it is due to some crew not showing up in LA & they don't want to take any chances with losing more to the sickness.
What is shown on the web cam is a little misleading- It appears as though we're going through a big storm when really it just lots of wind & sea spray- although the ship is rocking.

Well its Friday & the wind is still blowing across our bow although not as bad. The production show was posponed last evening due to the rocking of the ship & might be presented tonight. There was also a magic show last night but the lounge was not nearly filled. Possibly because of sea sickness? We didn't atten the formal diner last night because my wife wasn't feeling up to it & I went to the Horizon court. The food was identical to the restaurant. The place was empty at 6PM. Again, possible sea sickness?
I've just discovered that I can sent photo's from the Internet Cafe computers. Is there a place that I can post them so all can see the "fun".
That's all for now.

Hi RichC,

Hope your wife is feeling better. Not sure where you can send the pics but maybe someone else can help out.

If it's any consolation, the 5 day forecast for Lahaina is sunny, temps in the low 80's. Probably does not help you much if you are still in a storm in the Pacific.

I have cruised many times, and have never seen a production show cancelled for weather. Hang in there!

Hi again,

It seems you can post pics to Cruise Critic. Not sure how to do it. If you do post some pics, please let us know, and we will track them down.

Forecast high here in Edmonton, Alberta today is -3C, and the ground is covered with snow. Do you want to swith places? (ha)

It's not really a storm so much as the wind of about 40 knots. It looks as though it might be sunny day- can't tell yet.
My internal clock is all messed up. I get up at 3 AM & I'm falling asleep at diner.
I just found out that there were only three people & one crew member who came down with the Novovirus. At this time they seem to have it under control.

It Saturday & we're 500 mies or so from Hawaii. The seas have calmed & the air temp is around 76 at 8:30 in the morning. It promises to be a warm day & there are a few people in the pool already. No more cases of Norovirus. Sunshine is beaming into our balcony cabin (port side) & we have to keep out drapes closed to keep it from heating up. We'll be in Kona tomorrow morning at 9 AM. There were quite a few people sea sick in the last few days but most have recovered & are ready for Hawaii.

Hi RichC,

Good to hear from you again. Looks like you survived the crossing, and are ready for some beautiful days in Hawaii. One more question about the crossing if you don't mind.

We were wondering how bad the seas were at their worst. Do you recall from the daily reports from the bridge you get on your cabin TV
how deep the seas may have been? I know they report that along with position, weather, etc on a regular basis from the bridge.

Heres hoping you have some gorgeous weather in hawaii.

I really didn't pat attention to actual wave measurement but I recall something like 10 foot seas. The wind speed was 42 knots across the bow. Although it didn't bother me, there were lots of people that weren't feeling all that well. Our waiter told us last evening that he had to leave the DR at 9:30 & didn't make it to his cabin on deck 2. They didn't put out the paper bage in the hall ways as I've seen on some ships so I suppose they didn't feel it was that bad.
Also- we learned that the ship will sail south after leaving Kona on Sat. night & our balcony (port side) will be facing the volcano at around 2:30 AM in the morning. They slow the ship down so everyone can get to take pictures of the lava flow if everything goes OK & we have clear visibility we might get to see it at night.

It's Sunday & we're about 20 miles from Kona, the air temp is about 68 degrees (humid). We're also getting a good cell phone signal at around 12 miles out (Verizon- 2 bars on the balcony; 1 bar in the cabin) Looks as though it should be a clear sunny day.

Hi RichC,

Congratulations! Looks like you have survived the crossing very nicely. Hope your wife is feeling better.

The webcam shows the ship heading into the sun, so you must be sailing East into Kona.

You should have a good view of the volcano tonight from your port balcony.

Enjoy!